The 100-person office selected Carolinas Medical Center to benefit from the "Families Helping Families" Fund they have created through a fundraising initiative called Running of the Bulls.Merrill Lynch associates showed themselves to be bullish on fundraising with a series of charity events that included a chili-cook off, a costume contest, jeans and sneaker days, and a silent auction at The Palm restaurant.

"This was a great way for our office to reach out to some of our families who have been touched by cancer and treated at leading cancer centers like Blumenthal," said Don Plaus, Merrill Lynch's regional manager. "The chance to rally for a great cause also brought our staff members closer together at a time when so many things were impacting the financial services industry."

Plaus added, "What better place for a fundraising effort to culminate in turbulent times than the National Whitewater Center." Plaus said Merrill Lynch families gathered there on September 20 to recognize loved ones touched by cancer, celebrate a fundraising success, and present a check for over $30,000 to Blumenthal Cancer Center representatives.

Designated by the American College of Surgeons for its Outstanding Achievement Award, the Blumenthal Cancer Centerat Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) provides a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. The center combines treatment, support and research in an atmosphere of compassion and hope. Specially tailored programs utilize the most advanced technologies and innovative techniques to address the complicated issues of varying types of cancers.